Antifungal Shoe with Built-In Ultraviolet LEDs and Solar Cell

ABSTRACT

A shoe with an ultraviolet LED or LEDs in the insole and/or inside of the upper powered by a solar cell or solar cells on the outside of the upper.

I claim the benefit of earlier filed provisional application number 60820981.

The preferred embodiment of the shoe is intended to be a stand-alone self powering product that utilizes ambient light to sanitize one or more surfaces on or in the shoe. The technology is specifically targeted to foot fungus prevention but can be used for other purposes such as drying the shoe or odor prevention. The user of the shoe can place the shoe in ambient light to activate the technology or it can be active while the shoe is being worn.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows top view of shoe insole

FIG. 2 shows side view of shoe insole

FIG. 3 shows top view of shoe upper

FIG. 4 shows the electrical schematic

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Ultraviolet LED -   11 Solar Cell

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1, 2, 3, AND 4

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the UV LEDs 10 on the inside of the insole. These can be complete LED lamps or embedded LED dies. The LEDs can be oriented to irradiate in several possible directions. They can irradiate towards the inside of the insole, upward toward the inside of the shoe, or downward towards the bottom outer sole. The material that the insole can be made from can be a UV transmissive polymer material so that the entire flat surfaces of the insole are exposed to UV. The UV LEDs and associated wiring can be embedded to make the insole waterproof.

FIG. 3 shows the upper of the shoe with the preferred embodiment position of the solar cell 11. The solar cell can be sown into the shoe giving the shoe a seamless natural appearance. With advancement in solar cell technology a solar cell of the approximate size shown can power the UV LED circuit shown in FIG. 4 as well as any associated control electronics if required by additional embodiments. The solar cell can be internally wired to the UV LEDs or it itself can also be embedded as an integral part of the polymer sole/shoe upper making the entire product waterproof.

FIG. 4 shows the simplest embodiment of the solar cell and LED circuit with four LEDs shown. The solar cell could potentially power more than four LEDs. The LEDs can be continuously illuminated or control electronics can be added. 

1. A shoe with an ultraviolet LED or LEDs in the insole and/or inside of the upper powered by a solar cell or solar cells on the outside of the upper. 